Across Malawi, agriculture supports most rural livelihoods, yet many farmers still rely on traditional practices that limit productivity and income. Access to technical knowledge, finance and markets remains a major barrier, particularly for women farmers looking to scale their businesses.
In Salima District, Ms Mbumba Mita is showing what can change when those barriers begin to fall. A former marketing professional and Country Director at Up Energy, Mbumba never planned to become a farmer. But after relocating to Salima, she saw potential in the land around her. After years of saving, she purchased a 97 hectare farm and decided to experiment with mango production.
The move raised eyebrows. “People thought I was crazy for leaving my job to start farming,” she says.
She began with three hectares of mango trees, with plans to expand to twenty. But like many new commercial farmers, she quickly realised that land alone was not enough. Turning a farm into a viable business required technical knowledge, planning and market awareness. Through the UK Government funded Malawi Value Chains programme, implemented by ASI, Mbumba gained the skills needed to shift from traditional farming to a more commercial approach.
The training introduced her to selective harvesting techniques that ensure fruit reaches the market at the right maturity. Instead of harvesting everything at once, she now selects only fruit ready for sale, improving both quality and customer trust. Agronomic training also helped her understand the seasonal crop cycle. Previously, she irrigated her orchard continuously without realising that this could affect crop development. With a clearer understanding of when to irrigate and when to stop, she now manages her trees more effectively.
For Mbumba, the biggest change came from learning how to think about farming as a business. Investor readiness training helped her develop financial projections, plan investments and better understand the resources needed as her farm grows.
“It changed the mindset. I can now make projections and pricing decisions not just for mango, but for tomatoes and onions too.” Training on sanitary and phytosanitary standards also clarified the quality and compliance requirements needed to access export markets such as the UK, India, and China, laying the groundwork for future growth.
“I AM NO LONGER JUST PLANTING THINGS. I AM MANAGING MY FARM.”
The results are already visible on her farm. Last season, by waiting for the correct harvest window, Mbumba produced around half a tonne of high quality mangoes from approximately 200 three-year-old trees, a significant improvement from the previous season, when the same trees produced only a handful of marketable mangoes. The market response was immediate.
“I can already see the difference in the quality of my mangoes. The feedback from the market was excellent and there was no waste. So moving forward, I am not just hoping for better quantity and quality. I am prepared for it.” Her farm is also creating opportunities for others in the community.
Today she employs 20 people, including four full time staff, two of whom are women. During peak seasons she hires between twelve and 22 casual labourers, many from nearby villages who actively seek work on the farm. Improved financial planning has also helped her diversify into tomato and onion production, strengthening the farm’s resilience and income streams. With clearer financial records, she is now exploring opportunities to access formal financing to support further expansion.
Equally important has been the network of farmers she has built. Before joining the programme, Mbumba largely farmed in isolation. Through the project she joined the Nyanja Fruit Growers Cooperative, connecting with other farmers who share knowledge, advice and practical support. That support proved critical when thieves stole the solar panels powering her irrigation system. Without them, irrigation would have stopped. A fellow farmer from the network stepped in, lending spare panels so she could continue irrigating while saving to replace her own.
“I would not have known him without the project. That kind of support means everything when you are trying to keep your farm going.”
Mbumba now shares her own knowledge with around twenty farmers in her network, many of whom are beginning to explore mango production themselves.
Looking ahead, her ambitions are clear. Over the next five years she plans to expand her orchard towards twenty hectares of mango, introduce additional export varieties such as Keitt mangoes, and explore new international markets.
Her advice to other women considering agriculture is simple.
“DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF FARMING. START WHERE YOU ARE, KEEP LEARNING AND APPLY WHAT YOU LEARN. WHAT YOU HAVE CAN GROW INTO A BUSINESS THAT CHANGES YOUR FUTURE.”
